Envelop



C. C. HICKAM.

ENVELOP. APPLICATION FILED APR-22, 1919.

Patented Nov. 16, 192 0.

UNITED STATES CHARLIE c. HICKITAM; 0F PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA.

ENVELOP.

Specification of'Letters'Patent. Patented Nov. 16', 1 920.

Application fil'ea'n' rn 22, 1919. Serial No; 291,341.

ToaZZ 10 71077156 may concern v Be it known thatI, C HAR LIE CaH IOKAM,a citizen of the United States; residing at Portsmouth, in the county ofNorfolk and State of l irginia, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Envelope, of which the following is a specification. V

This invention relates to mailing envelops and more particularly toimprovements in the safety type, the primary object of the inventionbeing to provide an envelopwhich when once sealed, cannot beop'ened without detection or without mutilation ofo'rie or more of the flaps of theenvelop.

A further object of the invention is to provide an envelop ofthistype'which may be readily nd conveniently sealed and.

which if desired may be placed upon the market partly sealed so as torender it'more convenient for the purchaser to complete the sealingthereof.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the envelop embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

F Fig. 3 is a similar view on the line 3-3 of Fig. & is a plan view ofthe blank from which the envelop is formed.

The envelop comprises a front 1, a back 2, a closure flap 3, and endflaps 4. The front 1 is of the usual form and the back 2, closure flap3, and end flaps 4 are integral with the edges of the said front as isordinarily the case. The envelop is formed up from the blank shown inFig. l of the drawings and in order that an understanding may be had ofthe invention I will first describe the construction of the severalparts of the envelop and then describe the manner in which the envelopis folded up from the blank.

The back 2 near each lateral edge is formed with an incision 5 defininga sealing tongue 6 the connected end of which is located next adjacentthe respective lateral edge of the said back and upon the inner face ofeach of these sealing tongues there is provided an dhesive area 7 asimilar area 8 being provided along each lateral marginal portion of theinner face of the back and the said face of the back being furtherprovided with continuations 9 of the adhesive areas 8 whichcontinuations extend from theouter corners of the said back fora shortdistance along the outer marginal portion of the back; These extensionareas 9, however, are'not of greater length than the width of therespective end flaps4 for a reason which will be presently explained.The back 2'isalso formed with a transverse incision 10 located midwaybetween its lateral edges and between the incisions 5 which provide thesealin tongues 6.- 1

The closure flap 3 is formed with an incision 11 providing a sealingtongue 1-2having applied upon its inner face an area of adhesive 13, theattached end of the tongue being locatednext adjacent the outer marginof the saidflap and'the said t'ongue'being v located relatively close tothe flap. The incision 10 and the line of union of the tongue 12' withthe flap 3 are so located that in the folded condition of the blankthese two parts will be brought into registration. There is alsoprovided upon the inner face of the sealing flap 3 adhesive areas orzones 14 and 15 extending respectively along the outer marginal portionof the flap and the lateral marginal portions thereof. Each end flap 4:is formed with an incision 16 extending longitudinally thereof andparallel to the lines of fold between these end flaps and the lateraledges of the front 1 of the blank, these incisions 10 and the lines ofunion of the sealing tongues 6 with the back 2 being so located that inthe folded condition of the blank these parts also will register.

In forming up the envelop from the blank the end flaps 4 are firstfolded in against the inner face of the front 1, the back 2 being thenfolded to position against the outer faces of the said end flaps. Beforethe back is brought to this position the adhesive areas 7 are moistenedand as the back is folded to the position stated the sealing tongues 6are inserted through the respective incisions 16 and are folded backfrom the interior of the envelop so that their moistened adhesive.

areas or Zones will lie against the inner faces of the respective endflaps 4. Either at this time or prior to folding up the said back. theadhesive areas or zones 8 and their extensions 9 are moistened and afterthe sealing tongues have been inserted through the incisions in the endflaps, the back is pressed against the end flaps so as to secure theseparts together in the relation stated. Inasmuch as the extensions 9 ofthe adhesive zones 8 are longer than the .in the factory transmitted hasbeen placed within the envelop, the adhesive area or zone 13 ismoistened as are also the adhesive areas or zones 14 and 15. The flap isthen folded down and as this is done the sealing tongue 12 is insertedthrough the incision 10 being folded back in the meantime so that itsadhesive area 13 will come into contact with the inner face of the back2 of the envelop. When 'the envelop has been closed in the mannerstated, it will be so effectually sealed that it cannot possibly beopened without detection as for exampleby mutilation of one or an otherof the flaps or the back or front thereof. The envelop embodying theinvention presents a decided advantage inasmuch as after inserting thetongues 6 or the tongue 12 through their respective incisions andsealing the tongues firmly in place it is possible back,- end flaps, anda closure flap, the end 1 the to turn back the marginal portions of backand closure flap, respectively, en 11- ciently far to permit ofmoistening of the adhesive areas 8 and 9 and the areas and 15 so that itis not necessary to moisten these adhesive areas prior to inserting thesealing tongues through their respective incisions and'thus the fingersof the person sealing the envelop are not liable to become Ulllilledthrough contact with these moistened areas.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is A safetyenvelop comprising a front,

flaps having incisions and the back havi tongues spaced inwardly fromits margin and insertible through the said incisions, the said backhaving a marginal adhesive area to confront the end flaps when theenvelop is closed, the said back having an incision and the said closureflap having a tongue spaced inwardly from its margin and in sertiblethrough the last mentioned incision, the said closure flap having amarginal a. hesive areato confront the outer face of the back when theenvelop is closed and l of a width to extend over and cover the metmentioned incisions and sealing tongues.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

CHARLIE C. HICKAM. [n s.l

